October 9, 2021
Giving Unto Loss of life
St. John Leonardi was born in 1541 in Lucca, Italy. Whereas learning for the priesthood, he additionally labored as a pharmacist’s apprentice. After his ordination on December 2, 1572, he labored with prisoners and the sick. His charitable and selfless instance attracted some younger laymen who started to help him, most of whom then grew to become monks themselves.
The group of clergy fashioned the Clerks Common of the Mom of God, a congregation of diocesan monks. Due to the politics of the Reformation and an unfounded accusation that John fashioned the group for his personal private aggrandizement, the congregation obtained nice opposition; it was distinguished for studying however was initially dedicated to combating Protestantism and to selling the Counter-Reformation. The Clerks obtained episcopal approval on October 13, 1595 by Pope Clement VIII; nonetheless, John was exiled from Lucca for many of the remainder of his life. He was assisted in his exile by Saint Philip Neri (himself a founding father of a congregation — the Oratorians). Saint Philip, ever the joyful and giving saint, gave John his quarters — and his pet cat!
In 1579 John fashioned the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (the muse for our present C.C.D. — non secular schooling — lessons), and revealed a compendium of Christian doctrine that remained in use till revised within the nineteenth century. John died on October 9, 1609, from a illness caught whereas caring for victims of the plague, and is buried in Santa Maria in Portico. By the deliberate coverage of the founder, the Clerks Common of the Mom of God have by no means had greater than 15 church buildings, and immediately kind solely a really small congregation.
John was canonized in 1938.
From Johnnette Benkovic’s Sleek Residing: Meditations to Assist You Develop Nearer to God Day by Day
As we speak it’s trendy to speak in regards to the poor. Sadly it’s not trendy to speak with them.
— St. Teresa of Calcutta, reported by John Scally in Mom Teresa: The Irish Connection
Who’re the poor in my midst? How can I attain out to them, individual to individual?
Different Saints We Keep in mind As we speak
- St. Denis (Dionysius), Bishop, patron towards demons and complications, and Companions (Rusticus & Eleutherius), third Century, Martyrs
- St. Louis Bertrand (1581), Priest, Spiritual
- St. Dionysius the Areopagite (1581), Priest, Spiritual